Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Philippians 1:27-2:18 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; ²⁸ in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. ²⁹ For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, ³⁰ experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

2 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, ² make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ³ Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; ⁴ do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. ⁸ Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹ For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

¹² So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³ for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

¹⁴ Do all things without grumbling or disputing; ¹⁵ so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. ¹⁷ But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. ¹⁸ You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

In Ephesians 2:8-10 it says: By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.     We are to do good as a result of being saved by the grace of God. In today’s text it says:   Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.   As a result of God’s grace He not only works in us, but He, the Holy Spirit, actually abides in us. Imagine the many and varied emotions and feelings you might have if you were to stand before the very manifest presence of God Himself. Scriptural accounts of those who were in the presence of God depict everything from fear and trembling to overwhelming joy. If we would fear and tremble to stand before God, if we would feel overwhelming joy and gratitude in His presence, if we would bow in humble worship and obedience to God, should we not also respond that way to the Holy Spirit of God in us?  If Jesus were going to come to our house today we would probably do some things to prepare both ourselves and our homes. Yet too often we take for granted the dwelling place we provide for the Holy Spirit. Should we not walk each day in fear and trembling, knowing that God is in us? The text says:  Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.  In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus says:  “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”   If we will live out our salvation before people, walking in obedience to the Holy Spirit in us, the light of God shining in us will dispel the darkness around us.

The text today begins:  Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. We are called by Christ to preach the gospel, but if we do not conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel, our words lose their effect.  The text says:  Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.  The text says and we believe:  God highly exalted Him (Jesus), and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.   Knowing that Jesus is Lord and that one day every knee will bow to Him, our desire should be that they, others would know Him now. Jesus is the name above every name. He name is the only name by which people can be saved. The gospel is good news that we are to share with others. Our message will be heard if it is also seen. Because one day every knee will bow, my prayer is Paul’s prayer from Ephesians 3:14-21: 

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.   Today and every day, I also bow my heart to the Holy Spirit of God in me.  Thank You heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ and precious Holy Spirit.  Amen.